If anyone has ever taken a road trip with children, they would know that one of the most incessantly asked questions of any vacation voyage is, “Are we there yet;” to which the most frequently given response is, “We’re almost there.” Whether we are five minutes or 105 minutes away from our destination, the answer is usually the same: We are almost there. In those moments, it seems like we just cannot get there fast enough. Sometimes, this is not only true of our physical journey, but our spiritual journey as well. Sometimes, it can feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is light-years away.

Have you ever noticed that it is usually the children who ask, “Are we there yet” on road trips? Why is that? One reason is that the adults are the ones who, for the most part, know the final destination, including where it is and how long it takes to get there. Also, most adults are mature enough to know that they must endure some temporary discomfort (e.g. cramped spaces, long ride frequent bathroom breaks, etc.) before they get to their final desired destination. In other words, before we can be free to enjoy our fun in the sun at the theme parks, we have to endure the turmoil of the four-hour car ride.

So, you might be asking yourself: What does this have to do with our Spiritual lives? I think it’s safe to assume that many Christians are living an “Are we there yet” lifestyle. Most of us have faith and trust God, yet there are moments when we believe that we have not yet seen the manifestation of our faith. We have put one foot in front of the other, yet we have not arrived at our desired destination. We often find ourselves asking God, “Are we there yet?” Sounds familiar? How about one of these scenarios below?

God, it’s been years, and I have been praying for healing; yet I am still sick. Are we there yet?

God, I have been believing in you to mend my marriage, but it’s still falling apart. Are we there yet?

God, I have been praying so long for you to bless me with my partner, yet I am still single. Are we there yet?

God, I have been praying to you for years to bless my womb with life, yet I am still childless. Are we there yet?

Lord, I have been praying that you would bless my business ventures, yet I have only experienced closed doors. Are we there yet?

Lord, I have been praying for my wayward child to return home, yet he (or she) is still so far from you and from home. Are we there yet?

God, I have been praying for financial breakthrough, yet I am still in debt. Are we there yet?

God, I have been praying for (fill in the blank), yet (fill in the blank). Are we there yet?

Yes, many of us have been asking God, “Are we there yet,” for quite some time. But consider this revelation. In order to get to a place of peace, we have to realize that we are God’s children, and that we are in the backseat of His proverbial car. We have to know that when we allow God to drive us, He knows exactly where He is going and how to get there. When God drives us, we never have to worry about Him being pulled over for going too fast or being honked at for going too slow. Like children in the back seat, we have to be patient, mature and know that if we buckle up and sit tight, we will eventually arrive at our destination. We might also realize that if we quit whining and complaining, we might actually enjoy the ride. Ultimately, our lives and our walk with God comes down to this one simple truth, “We are either going to trust God, or we are not.” Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.,” (NIV).

You and I have to believe that even though to the naked eye it might seem like we are light-years away from our desired destination, God is still in control and that He has a plan to bless and prosper us. You see, in our minds, we might be thinking weekend getaway, while God is planning a vacation destination.

Father God, Please continue to bless us with your peace that surpasses all understanding. In those moments when we are tempted to ask, “Are we there yet;” comfort us. Allow us to know that you are still in control and that you have a plan for our lives that will supersede our expectations. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

We never have to worry about missing the memo from God. If we failed to receive it the first time, He always provides an opportunity for our lessons to be repeated.

Last night, I attended a midweek, young-adult service at one of my local churches. Actually, the Tuesday night worship experience at this particular church is not your typical, midweek service. The atmosphere is charged with and electrified by the Spirit.

The message of the night was from James 1:2-4:

Dear brothers and sisters,when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (NLT).

The take home messages of the night were:

God uses our trials as an opportunity for growth.

We should find joy in the pain of growth.

When it looks like all is lost, God has one more move.

Wow! How many of us can perpetually see the glass half full?

Last night was my God reminder. I heard God say, “Just in case you missed the memo the first time, ‘I am reminding you of who I am.’” During the service, I remembered that God had laid this very message on my heart a few month ago. I was excited to go home to find my journal entry and be reminded of what God had said then.

Once we embrace the fact that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever,” (Hebrews 13:8) we can rest in the knowledge that what He promised yesterday is still valid today.

Below is my 2/13/13 journal entry on James 1:3-4. I hope it blesses you as much as it has me.

For you know that when your faith is tested,
your endurance has a chance to grow. (James 1:3, NLT).

Endurance is preparation for the next time. Think about jogging. The first time you commit to jogging, you might only be able to run one block. But in running that one block, the body is being conditioned. The cells are being oxidized, and the muscles are being strengthened. The next time you run, you might either

Be able to run the same distance with less fatigue

Or

Run further

Each time, however, there is an increase in strength that occurs. The same is true of faith. Each time you exercise your faith, your spiritual muscles increase, yielding increase endurance. The things that you endured today might have seemed impossible last year.

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing, (James 1:4, NLT).

Think about the jogging analogy. Let’s say you were training for a 5K. There would come a time in the training process where you could run the 5K without stopping, or without fatigue. So as far as the 5K level, you would need nothing. You would be perfect and complete. However, if you decided to train for a half-marathon, additional training would be required and the cycle would repeat.

The same applies to our faith. There are different levels of completion. When you reach, what I will call, “level-one faith,” you are perfect and complete for THAT level. It doesn’t mean that you are perfect and complete for life. It simply means that you are ready to be graduated to the next level of faith. There is always a growth curve—at least until death.

Dear God,

During this season, you have challenged so many of us to have faith in your word and your character. I pray that we will continue to trust you as you develop us. I pray that we will trust you with our lives, our relationships, our finances, our destinies, our purposes and our hearts. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!